French President Emmanuel Macron has been re-elected for a second term, defeating his far-right challenger, Marine Le Pen, by a comfortable margin.

In his victory speech, Macron acknowledged many had only voted for him solely to keep Le Pen out, and he promised to address the sense that many French have that their living standards are slipping.

“Many in this country voted for me not because they support my ideas but to keep out those of the far-right. I want to thank them and know I owe them a debt in the years to come. No one in France will be left by the wayside”, - he said.

Macron is the first French president in 20 years to have secured a second term in office, and his centrist government will remain in power for the next five years.